“SINNER SINNERS play loud, powerful and unapologetic rock and roll with a calm humility that belies the crazed power that lies beneath.” – TwoGuysMetalReviews.com

Ah, the days of pure, raucous, outspoken, and aggressive rock n’ roll often seem to have passed. But while this sound has almost entirely evaded the mainstream, at least one up and coming band in Los Angeles is poised to bring it back, while proving that truly honest and outstanding rock music isn’t always fuelled by animosity or anger, but often by a pure passion for music and the one you’re making it with.

Happily married couple Steve and Sam Thill met in a small town in the center of France at the age of 15 and fell fast in love. Eight years later in 2009, the couple started SINNER SINNERS out of their mutual love of rock music and desire to be at each other’s sides throughout all aspects of their musical careers. Since their inception and relocation to Los Angeles, SINNER SINNERS have pushed their forceful punk-influenced rock n’ roll out to the controlled masses, but see 2014 as a figurative launching pad designed to hit the big time.

“Being in a band with my wife – working on songs and performing shows – is a very different concept than any other band I’ve seen or been in before,” states Steve Thill. “There’s a chemistry that can’t be matched, plus we’ve been together since we’re teens and grew up together. We know each other very well and it translates well into our songwriting.”

SINNER SINNERS offers a brand new full-length album XI, which will hit digital stores via independent release on the band’s Cadavra Records on April 21, 2014. Take a listen to two new tracks, ‘Riot’ (http://youtu.be/Ndz6GpOXvd0) and ‘Reckless’ (http://youtu.be/Juhp6zLIRdk), via YouTube now.

As with their 2011 release Cardinal Sins, the band enlisted producer Nic Jodoin (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Amusement Park On Fire, The Morlocks), and recorded at the Glory Hole in Hollywood, CA (the previous album also featured production duties from Pascal Mondaz). Interesting fact, SINNER SINNERS recorded with Nic at the same time as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, actually trading places in the studio throughout the course of the process.

SINNER SINNERS do not want fans to confuse producer loyalty with a desire to do the same old thing, however. “We wanted something completely different from the first record, something more aggressive and straight forward, louder and faster,” states Steve Thill. “Strangely enough, The Doors and the Rolling Stones are probably our biggest influences and the only bands we would listen to during the writing and recording process.”

Thill adds, “We love Nic, we’re good friends. It gives a different dynamic, there’s no filter or holding back even when it comes scream at each other. He’s a great producer and knows how to push us beyond our limits.”

SINNER SINNERS keeps busy outside of the studio as well, boasting recent performances with Black Flag, The Sonics, The Lords of Altamont, The Morlocks, The Creepshow and many more.

This is just the beginning for SINNER SINNERS! To learn more about the band, please visit these websites:

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORSTO JOIN AEROSMITH FOR“LET ROCK RULE”NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER TOURLAUNCHES JULY 10 IN NEW YORK

SLASH ANNOUNCES THIRD SOLO STUDIO ALBUM OUT THISSEPTEMBER

Today (Tuesday, April 8),SLASH joined Aerosmith for a roof-raising set in front of a packed crowd at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles in celebration of their forthcoming headlining North American tour this summer. Promoted exclusively by Live Nation, the LET ROCK RULE tour kicks off on Thursday, July 10 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY (see full itinerary below). SLASH and Aerosmith–longtime friends who’ve performed together throughout the years–will also take over Los Angeles, Cali. (The Forum), San Francisco, Cali. (Sleep Train Pavilion) and Boston,Mass. (Xfinity Center), among other cities, before wrapping Friday, September 12 in Sydney, NS, Canada (Open Hearth Park). Expect SLASH and Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators to announce additional solo dates in between the arena shows.

“Aerosmith is one of my all time favorite bands, and one of the greatest rock & roll bands of all time,” says SLASH. “It’s an honor for me to go out & tour with them and keep the rock & roll banner flying high.”

The SLASH pre-sale begins on Thursday, April 10 at 10:00 AM local time on: http://slashonline.com/tour. The ticket package includes: amazing seats (Level 1 tickets), an exclusive autographed SLASH lithograph, a Digital Download of the NEW SLASH album (due in Sept 2014) and a merchandise voucher worth $50, redeemable in the SLASH Exclusive Online Store. For all packages, visit: http://slashonline.com/tour.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, April 10 at 10:00 a.m. through Sunday, April 13 at 10:00 p.m. Citi® cardmembers will also have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Thursday, April 10 at 10:00 a.m. through Sunday, April 13 at 10:00 p.m. through Citi’s Private Pass® Program. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com. This summer’s hottest ticket will go on sale to the general public starting on Monday, April 14 through the Live Nation mobile app and at www.livenation.com. The first round of tour dates are below with additional dates for a second leg to be announced shortly.

SLASH and his bandmates Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators—MYLES KENNEDY (vocals), BRENT FITZ (drums), TODD KERNS (bass) and FRANK SIDORIS (guitar)–will return this September with their third studio album, title TBA and second album with this line-up. The group is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to 2012’s Apocalyptic Love which is being helmed by producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus).The group is recording a total of 17 songs–including one instrumental. “It’s very rock. It’s more up-tempo than the last record was,” states vocalistKENNEDY. “Slash has got some really great riffs on this record. Killer stuff…” “The material on this album is more serious and more fun at the same time, which is a tough balance,” adds bassist TODD KERNS. “The songs are sleazier, tougher and more dangerous. We’re all very excited to unleash the monster upon you as soon as we can.”

SLASH officially began recording as a solo artist with his self-titled 2010 debut album which employed a different vocalist on each track of his first album including Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie and Myles Kennedy among others. SLASH explains, “We’ve worked really well together from the start. I never thought about how it’s progressed. It’s real natural and like any sort of close relationship, we established it early on and now we’re just sort of doing our thing, it’s just a really cool kind of synergy that we’ve got.” Apocalyptic Love earned SLASH two first-ever No. 1 U.S. rock radio hits with “You’re A Lie” and “Standing In The Sun.” The album’s third single, “Anastasia,” cracked the Top 10 at Modern and Active Rock and Top Five at Mainstream Rock.

Watch SLASH’s “Real To Reel” webisodes happening now in the studio at: www.slashonline.com. The innovative online series is documentingthe entire in-studio recording process from the first day of recording to the last, the multi-segment fly-on-the wall series follows Slash and The Conspirators from pre-production at NRG Studios in Los Angeles to Studio Barbarossa in Florida, as they write, play, create and record the new album from start to finish.

Following the summer run with Aerosmith, the group will return to the U.K. and Europe. Expect more shows to be announced shortly.

About SLASH:SLASH has amassed album sales of over 100 million copies, garnered a GRAMMY Award and seven GRAMMY nominations and was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.Time magazine named SLASH #2, behind Jimi Hendrix, on its “The Ten Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time” list. SLASH helped create signature sounds like the guitar riff on #1 hits for Guns N Roses“Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle.” After leaving the band, SLASH went on to critical acclaim with SLASH’s Snakepit and global success with the supergroup Velvet Revolver. SLASH’s self-titled biography critically well-received, climbed the bestseller list in both the U.S. and U.K.hitting #8 on the NY Times Bestsellers List. SLASH landed on the top of the charts with his first solo album, Slash (2010) which featured Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie and more. SLASH and his band featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators released the critically acclaimed Apocalyptic Love (2012) which stormed theBillboard Top 200 Albums Chart at #4 as the top rock debut and produced his first-ever #1 rock radio solo hits: “You’re A Lie” and “Standing In The Sun.”SLASH released Nothing Left To Fear (2013) the first-ever motion picture he co-produced from Slasher Films, his film/TV production company. SLASH and his band are currently in the studio at work on a new album set for release September 2014. www.slashonline.com.

About AEROSMITH:AEROSMITH—Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (lead guitar), Brad Whitford (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass) and Joey Kramer (drums)–are a living piece of American music history, having sold over 150 million albumsworldwide and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hallof Fame. They are the recipients of countless awards including four GRAMMYs, eight American Music Awards, six Billboard Awards and 12 MTV Video MusicAwards among many other honors. Their latest honors include the 2013 ASCAPFounders Award and induction into the Songwriter Hall of Fame at the 44thannual SHOF ceremony also in 2013. MUSIC FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION!(Columbia), the band’s latest album, was released in late 2012. Proving that they can cross genre-boundaries with ease, these rock legends have even taken home a Soul Train Award for Best Rap Single for their remix of Run DMC’s “Walk This Way.” With scores of multi-platinum albums, AEROSMITH continues to inspire generations to get their wings, get a grip and just push play. It is no wonder why they are one of the most beloved bands of all time.

When Josey Scott left Saliva in 2011, the band had two options, (a). break up or (b) start over by finding a new front man. Thankfully, the band chose plan b, and found a new singer, Bobby Amaru (Amaru, Burn Season).

Starting over is always a daunting task for any band, especially one with a huge fan base like Saliva. Luckily, Amaru was a great find, and his voice works perfectly for Saliva. I expect a lot of great things for this new era of Saliva, and I really like the direction the band has moved in with their latest album Rise Up.

Rise Up is a heavier album for Saliva, but not so heavy that it will disappoint the band’s fans. This album is packed with radio friendly rockers, and many songs that could easily be hits for Saliva.

The album cover fits the title track “Rise Up” perfectly. When you hear this song you will definitely want to throw your fist in the air! As much as I like “Rise Up”, it does not even compare to “She Can Sure Hide Crazy”. Easily my favorite track on “Rise Up”, this catchy rocker is going to be a huge song for Saliva!

“Lost” is a mid-tempo number that I expect to be another hit for Saliva. It is great to hear Wayne Swinny cutting lose with some big, clean guitar riffs on this song.

“Redneck Freakshow” sounds like classic Saliva. This is another heavy rocker with a killer beat! I love Paul Crosby’s drumming on this song. This is another one of my new Saliva favorites.

I find myself headbanging every time the song “Army” comes up. This is another cool rocker with a great beat courtesy of Mr. Crosby. Love the vocals too!

“In It To Win It” is one of the heaviest Saliva songs ever, and this fist pumping rocker should be a real crowd pleaser in Saliva’s live set.

Saliva’s new album Rise Up will definitely put the band back on the road to success. I have been enjoying this album, and I think you will to.

Rise Up will be released April 29th to a store near you, and on iTunes and Amazon.com. Don’t miss this!

Rating: Out of 10

Track Listing:

01. Rise Up
02. She Can Sure Hide Crazy
03. Lost
04. 1000 Eyes
06. Redneck Freakshow
07. Choke
08. Army
09. Closer
10. In It To Win It
11. The Enemy
12. I Don’t Want It

Lets face it, if you haven’t anally followed the latest sexploits of the legendary and almighty Steel Panther than you either have a good day job or you spend far too much time loitering in the boys locker room at school. Do you like Boobs? The four biggest boobs rockin’ the East Side of West Hollywood have just released a colossal new CD, epically titled “All You Can Eat,” and one good serving leaves you with nothing to be desired.

When Steel Panther released 2009’s “Feel The Steel,” fans clamored for a closer look at real men donning real spandex in front of real Marshall Stacks; and the result was an overwhelming display of debauchery. Critics called it a joke and said it wouldn’t last! What does a critic know anyway?

When the band’s demanding tour schedule finally slowed down to just 8 shows a week, the band let their “Balls Out” in 2011 to an album that nearly cleared through 13,000 copies sold in it’s first week of independent release and instantly became the highest illegally downloaded display of sexual disorientation since someone digitized that VHS tape of Traci Lords and her tennis racket. As YouTube videos arose, a sudden demand for AquaNet developed around the world and a new generation of teens found hope in the depressing world of post-grunge anti-metal; there was something greater that they could aspire to be – Steel ‘Fan’thers. After all, if you can’t make a living being who and what they are … and YOU can’t! … then at least you can get on the bandwagon and support the positive side of having a wang and flailing it in public for the good of rock and roll!

On Thursday, April 3rd, Hustler Hollywood, the premier destination for all things that make a body feel good, opened its Sunset Strip doors to just 100 “invite only” die-hard fanatics that patiently lined the boulevard. A host of news reporters with cameras in tow and eager magazine writers gathered; looking to celebrate the long awaited release of Steel Panther’s 2014 CD titled “All You Can Eat.”

When the band arrived, somewhat disheveled and grinning ear to ear, they were escorted onto the stage area by a bevy of Hustler Models in fishnet tights and bejeweled mini-shorts, with tousled hair and dazed looks. Some even appeared to be weak in the knees, which meant only one thing; the boys were back in town! Kevin Chiaramonte, the band’s management representative, fielded questions from the audience as national magazine editors begged for answers to the real dirt fans want to hear about. “How does one cure herpes?” “Why does it burn when I pee?” and a long list of other less introspective questions were asked and answered. You’ll have to visit www.SteelPanther.tv for a broadcast of the day’s event to see if the band answered a question you may have.

Poised for action with an acoustic guitar and a pink polka dot bass (and hand held mirror), guitarist Satchel, bassist Lexxi Foxx, drummer Stix Zadinia and front man Michael Starr performed an all-hits set of song selections from their three CD’s. During the set, one high school fan got the treat of a lifetime. After begging Starr to take her to the prom, he responded by bringing her on stage for a personal rendition of the Steel Panther song “Girl From Oklahoma.”

The after-party took place at the world famous Rainbow Bar & Grill where the band supplied fans with an unending supply of pizza along with two special drinks they personally added to the bar selections – “The Glory Hole” (A Jack Daniels and Pepsi concoction) and “The Pussy Whipped” (which blended Cranberry Juice, Vodka and a spurt of what might have been soda). Attendees spent the evening getting up close and personal with the band. Each “Fanther” got a chance to take a photo or have their boobs signed with no regrets. Raging on until well after midnight, Steel Panther bid farewell with thanks, boarding their Panther mobile and leaving fans to continue the party without them.

During the meet and greet session, members of the band shared that with National Tour Dates starting in May of 2014, their Hollywood House of BluesMonday Night Residency will have just three dates scheduled before coming to an end. Complete details, news updates, social media links and the forthcoming tour dates can be found on the Steel Panther’s official website at www.SteelPanther.tv .

I have been listening to Alter Bridge’s fourth album Fortress for a few months now, and I have to say I am disappointed….. disappointed that more people aren’t talking about this album, and that it isn’t getting more praise.

Fortress may be Alter Bridge’s most complex album yet, and quite possibly their best. Mark Tremonti shows his metal roots, by crafting one of the heaviest Alter Bridge albums yet. His guitar work seems to get better and better with every album. On Fortress, Tremtonti’s riffs are heavy enough to please metal heads, but not so heavy to scare off Alter Bridge’s constantly growing fan base.

Myles Kennedy probably gets more press while signing with Slash, but he should get a lot more attention for his performance on Fortress. One word describes his vocals on this album, brilliant! Kennedy’s vocals are constantly soaring to new heights, and no matter how heavy the music becomes, his voice complements Tremonti’s playing perfectly. There are times when Kennedy’s range gives me goose bumps. In example the song “Calm the Fire” starts off with a brief acoustic in which Kennedy pushes his voice at high octave but at a slower tempo. The song transforms into a fantastic rocker that to my ears is simply amazing! This is easily my favorite track on the album, but Fortress is full of great stuff like this.

If you miss songs like “Addicted to Pain”, “Cry of Achilles”, “Bleed it Dry”, or “Waters Rising” you are really missing out on some of the best heavy tracks of 2013 and of Alter Bridge’s career. Check this one out!!

Man oh mercy, I have always been a fan of German metal, and I always anticipate new material from Gammy Ray.. I can always expect quality releases from this band, and Gamma Ray’s latest opus Empire of the Undead is no exception.

Heavy Metal can not be stopped, and Empire of the Undead is living proof. The home, rehearsal space, and meeting point for Gamma ray, and many metal bands throughout Germany, had burned down leaving much of its contents in ruins. The Empire Of The Undead masters managed to make it through unscathed.

Thank God it dead, as the band’s 11th album, Empire of the Undead is packed full of amazing solos, great vocals, and excellent metal tracks clocking in at over an hour in length. While Gamma Ray hasn’t completely abandoned the Power metal format, to my ears, Empire of the Unead is more of a pure heavy metal album with hints of influence of Judas Priest in the music. The songs are heavy and fast, but at a pace that you will find yourself singing along. Kai Hansen delivers fantastic metal riffs that need to be played at high volume to fully appreciate it. (If you play this in a car beware, it may be detrimental to your driving record.)

My favorites on this album are “Hellbent”, “Pale Rider”, “Master of Confusion”, the title track “Empire of the Undead”, and the (possibly) Queen influenced “Time for Deliverance”.

Empire of the Undead will be released April 15th in the United States. Every metal fan ought to give this album a listen. It is easily one of Gamma Ray’s best albums yet and it gets better with every listen. Don’t miss this!

Denmark — Volbeat returns to North America this week on a tour that takes the band coast-to-coast. The run begins at The Fillmore in Denver, CO on April 3, and will wrap on May 10 at the Susquehanna Bank Center Arena in Camden, NJ. Sold-out appearances include Denver, CO (4/03 – Fillmore), Mescalero, NM (4/04 – Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort), Anaheim, CA (4/06 – The Grove), Spokane, WA (4/11 – Knitting Factory ), Missoula, MT (4/15 – Wilma Theatre), Fargo, ND (4/17 – The Venue), Niagara Falls, NY (5/05 – Rapids Theatre) and Hampton Beach, NH (5/09 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom). The majority of the dates on the band’s itinerary are close being sold-out as well. Trivium and Digital Summer will support Volbeat on this excursion.

This past week, Volbeat won Germany’s Echo Award for “Best International Alternative Act” (pictured above). The quartet was selected over other contenders in the category 30 Seconds To Mars, Placebo, Imagine Dragons, and Black Sabbath.

Since the release of the band’s latest album Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies via Republic in the U.S., the title has sold more than 300,000 copies according to Soundscan, alongside hundreds of thousands of digital singles. Volbeat received their first Grammy Nomination in the “Best Metal Performance” category for “Room 24” (Volbeat Featuring King Diamond). The band’s repertoire has become a staple at Active Rock radio, cementing the band’s relevance with five consecutive #1 singles at the format. Their latest “Dead But Rising” climbs to #3 this week at Active Rock. Overseas, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies has been certified platinum in their home country of Denmark, alongside Germany and Austria, with gold sales in Finland.

Since forming in Copenhagen in 2000, Volbeat has released five studio albums, and two live offerings that have turned the band into superstars, collecting platinum discs and prestigious awards making them one of the most talked about bands around the world. Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, debuted at No. 1 in the band’s home country of Denmark alongside Canada, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Austria. The new release saw a debut at No. 2 in Finland, No. 4 in the Netherlands and Sweden, and No. 9 in The United States. Volbeat is Michael Poulsen (vocals/guitar), Anders Kjølholm (bass) and Jon Larsen (drums), joined by former Anthrax/The Damned Things guitarist Rob Caggiano, who produced the new album with longtime Volbeat co-producer Jacob Hansen.

The upcoming tour marks Volbeat’s fourth visit to North American this album cycle, and follows an excursion as headliners of the Monster Energy Rock Allegiance Tour in August and September, 2013. This past year, the band has been one of the largest touring draws on the European continent headlining both festivals and a arena tour, and they appeared at the major Japanese festival Summer Sonic 2013 in both Tokyo and Osaka. Cumulatively, Volbeat has performed for over a million fans since the current album was released. Confirmed appearances for Spring, 2014 include:

“Kill the King”, the debut album by WAMI is scheduled for release on May, 12th in Europe and May, 13th in North America. The names associated with the project are true legends on the hard rock scene: on the vocals – Doogie White (Rainbow, Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen), on the drums – Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, DIO), on the bass – Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake), who join forces with the 16-year-old Polish guitarist Iggy Gwadera, who made his debut 2 years ago as the guitarist of Anti Tank Nun.

You can now check a short interview with Marco Mendoza where he discusses the project. It’s available on Metal Mind Productions’ YouTube channel in THIS location.

The idea to record an album together was born after Thin Lizzy’s concert in Poland. The bassist Marco Mendoza, delighted with the young guitarist Iggy, who supported Thin Lizzy with his band Anti Tank Nun, suggested that they record some music together. This first idea, which was maturing for the next dozen-odd months, eventually evolved into the project involving legendary musicians, who are currently recording a brand new album together with Iggy. The drummer Vinny Appice, renowned for playing in some of the best heavy metal bands of worldwide fame, as also the bassist Marco Mendoza have already finished recording bass and drum tracks in Los Angeles. In late November 2013, Doogie White confronted his vocal talent with Iggy’s guitar technique during their recording sessions in Poland. Hard rock fans can well expect the results of these sessions to be truly outstanding!

One of the most misunderstood Hard Rock bands to come out of the 80’s is returning with their first new album in 5 years. Winger is releasing Better Days Comin’ on April 18th in Europe and April 22nd in North America via Frontiers Records. The notorious band comprised of members Kip Winger on vocals/bass, Reb Beach on guitar, John Roth on guitar and Rod Morgenstein on drums, are back with their latest album. The album is available for pre-order on Amazon.com in a standard (http://smarturl.it/WNGR_AmzCD) and deluxe configuration (http://smarturl.it/WNGR_AmzDLX). The deluxe edition comes in a glossy digipak and includes the bonus track “Another Beautiful Day” and a DVD including a Making of the Album documentary as well as videos for the first single “Rat Race” and title track “Better Days Comin’.” An iTunes pre-order will be available soon. The band has always been known for their incredible musicianship and the trend continues on Better Days Comin’.

“On Better Days Comin’ we drew from our past to elaborate on our future. The band is stronger than ever and very excited about the music on this record,” explains front man Kip Winger. “We feel this album exemplifies the true sound of the band in every way.”

From the opening riff of album opener “Midnight Driver of a Love Machine” to the final outro lick of “Out Of This World,” it is clear Winger is back and better than ever. Hard rocking songs like “Queen Babylon,” progressive rock movements like “Tin Soldier,” and touching ballads like “Ever Wonder” show the band’s diversity while always centering on great songs. The debut single from Better Days Comin’ is the adrenaline fueled rocker “Rat Race” that showcases some of the band’s best work of their 25 year career.

The track listing for Better Days Comin’ is:
1) Midnight Driver of a Love Machine
2) Queen Babylon
3) Rat Race
4) Better Days Comin’
5) Tin Soldier
6) Ever Wonder
7) So Long China
8) Storm In Me
9) Be Who You Are, Now
10) Another Beautiful Day (Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)
11) Out Of This World

Winger formed in the late 1980’s and soared to immediate success with their 1988 self-titled release. The album spawned the hit singles “Seventeen” and “Headed For A Heartbreak” and achieved platinum sales status. Winger also stayed on the Billboard Top 200 chart for over 60 weeks where it peaked at #21. Their next album, In The Heart Of The Young, also achieved platinum status behind the singles “Can’t Get Enuff” and “Miles Away.” The change in musical climate of the mid-90’s, compounded with unprovoked ridicule on MTV’s popular Beavis and Butthead, led the band to go on hiatus in 1994. In 2001, the band reunited and have not looked back since. Winger has made a name for themselves with relentless touring, while winning back fans and critics alike because of their exceptional musicianship, Kip Winger’s powerful vocals and the band’s incredible songwriting.

This August will see long time music legends and mutual admirers, ZZ Top and Jeff Beck on tour together for the first time. The tour launches in Missoula, MT on August 8 and will run for five weeks with stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Detroit, Boston and NYC . . . (more dates TBA).

Formatted with musical synergy in mind, stops along the touring routewill offer fans a full Jeff Beck set, followed by a full ZZ Top set, with a finale that joins the English fret master with the Texas rockers for a collaboration each night of the tour.

ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, speaking on behalf of band mates Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, noted that Beck has long been a source of musical inspiration from the time when Beck played in the Yardbirds, the seminal hard blues-based Britrock band. Gibbons commented, “Ever since experiencing ‘Jeff’s Boogie,’ the prospect of performance with Jeff Beck on the deck brings us into focus with the curator of crunch.”

Likewise, Beck has been an enduring fan of ZZ Top, from even before their ascendance in popularity in the 70s and 80s. He remarked, “Ever since Eliminator I thought it would be great to play with ZZ Top,” and went on to declare Billy Gibbons, “The Professor of Grunge.”

This tour is not the first live collaboration between the two camps. Gibbons joined Jeff Beck and his band on stage at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where they performed The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Foxey Lady” and ZZ Top’s hit “Rough Boy” together. The following year Jeff Beck joined ZZ Top in Lucca, Italy for an extended rendition of the band’s signature piece “La Grange.” This, however, marks the first time Jeff Beck and ZZ Top will have done any sort of extensive touring together.

ZZ Top, formed in the Houston area of Texas in 1969, became a huge national touring act in the 70s and darlings of MTV in the 80s, going on to sell tens of millions of records. Their unique hybrid of dirty blues, hard rock, incorporating new sounds and technology, earned them induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones doing the honors.

Jeff Beck, a native of London and two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Famer (with The Yardbirds in 1992, and on his own in 2009), helped set the template in the 60s for the solo-heavy, feedback-laden, rock guitar hero archetype. He formed the Jeff Beck Group by the end of that decade with then-unknown vocalist Rod Stewart, eventually going solo, with forays into fusion and beyond in the mid-70s. Beck, like ZZ Top, has continually incorporated new sounds and technologies into his work throughout his half-century long career. Lately, Beck has been working on a new studio album, his first since the 2010 release of the critically acclaimed Emotion & Commotion, which earned him two Grammy Awards and the highest charting debut in his career.

New CHRIS JERICHO Autobiography Set For October 13 Release;
‘TALK IS JERICHO’ Podcast Reaches No. 1 In Seven Countries

FOZZY – frontman CHRIS JERICHO, guitarists RICH WARD and BILLY GREY, bassist PAUL DILEO and drummer FRANK FONTSERE – will release their new single “LIGHTS GO OUT” April 29 across all digital platforms. The release will coincide with the track’s impact at Active Rock radio, and will be the first single from the band’s upcoming sixth studio album, set to hit stores this summer.

“‘LIGHTS GO OUT’ represents a brand new color in the FOZZY spectrum,” says CHRIS JERICHO of the new single. “Dark, sexy, sleek, dirty, heavy and catchy as f*ck, this song turns a whole new page in hard rock history – it doesn’t matter if you dance to it in a club or mosh to it in a pit, ‘LIGHTS GO OUT’ will make you move!”

The band return to the North American tour circuit in late April, where they will be making crowds move on America’s biggest festivals, including appearances alongside AVENGED SEVENFOLD, VOLBEAT, ROB ZOMBIE, SLAYER and more at 98 ROCKFEST, WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE, CAROLINA REBELLION and ROCK ON THE RANGE. FOZZY will also be playing dates between festivals in support of BUCKCHERRY, co-headlining with KYNG, and sharing their stage with GEMINI SYNDROME, REV THEORY, HEAVEN’S BASEMENT and Century Media Records labelmates EYES SET TO KILL. See the band’s current itinerary below.

Also recently annouced is the October 13, 2014 release of ‘THE BEST IN THE WORLD: AT WHAT I HAVE NO IDEA,’ CHRIS JERICHO’s third autobiography and the sequel to his New York Times bestsellers ‘A LION’S TALE’ and ‘UNDISPUTED’. You can pre-order the new book by clicking here, or on the image of the book cover below.

Still can’t get enough JERICHO? Check out the ‘TALK IS JERICHO’ podcast, which features the multi-faceted superstar interviewing guests from the all over the world of pop-culture and entertainment twice weekly, every Wednesday and Friday. The podcast has already reached No. 1 in seven countries and is one of the marquee programs on the PodcastOne network, featuring guests as diverse as comedian and TV host HOWIE MANDEL, ghosthunter JEFF BELANGER, professional athletes and wrestling superstars, and fellow musicians such as DAVE MUSTAINE, M. SHADOWS and ACE FREHLEY. Click here or on the image below to listen to and download episodes, as well as subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes.

Sebastian Bach fans can check out the brand new video for “Temptation” below!

The sinful, hard-hitting video, directed by Patrick Fogarty (Black Veil Brides, Picture Me Broken, The Burning Of Rome), is the first from Bach‘s forthcoming studio album, GIVE ‘EM HELL, and features quintessential rock bassist Duff McKagan on bass. GIVE ‘EM HELL is due out in North America on April 22nd via Frontiers Records. Fans who pre-order the album now from iTunes will receive instant gratification tracks of “Temptation” as well as “Hell Inside My Head.” The album may also be pre-ordered at Amazon here.

Produced, mixed and recorded by Bob Marlette (Black Sabbath, Shinedown, Alice Cooper) and mastered by Tom Baker (Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Seether), GIVE ‘EM HELL features writing and playing by very special friends and guest stars: Duff McKagan (Velvet Revolver, Guns N’ Roses), John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie) and Steve Stevens (Billy Idol). Rounding up the lineup on the album are Devin Bronson on guitars and Bobby Jarzombek on drums.

SebastianBach has sold in excess of 20 million records worldwide as lead singer with his former band, Skid Row and as a solo artist. Far from just being a multi-platinum recording artist, the singer/songwriter/actor/entertainer has expanded his career over the past decade to include episodic television with a 5-season recurring role on the CW’s hit series “Gilmore Girls”, starring roles on Broadway (“Jekyll & Hyde”, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”) and national touring companies (“Jesus Christ Superstar”), and has appeared regularly on MTV and VH1.

Black Label Society debuted a brand new music video for their single “My Dying Time” exclusively via VEVO. The video was directed by Justin Reich of The Animatter Studio, and showcases frontman Zakk Wylde and BLS newcomer Dario Lorina.

Zakk Wylde says of the video “The video that father Justin created, my treatment was of me waking up in the morning and going to the grocery store and this is the video he made”

Catacombs Of The Black Vatican tracklisting here:

1. Fields Of Unforgiveness

2. My Dying Time

3. Believe

4. Angel Of Mercy

5. Heart Of Darkness

6. Beyond The Dawn

7. Scars

8. Damn The Flood

9. I’ve Gone Away

10. Empty Promises

11. Shades Of Gray

12. Dark Side Of The Sun (bonus track)

13. The Nomad (bonus track)

Catacombs of the Black Vatican will be released on April 8th, 2014 and is the first all new LP from the band since The Order of the Black was released in 2009, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The iTunes pre order is now available with audio sample previews.

The world’s biggest heavy music touring festival, the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL in its seventh annual sojourn, is pleased to announce the official 2014 artist line-up with the boldest, largest, loudest and most diverse lineup to date! Not only will this year’s festival include the massive ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAIN STAGE and COLDCOCK AMERICAN HERBAL WHISKEY STAGE, but will also present two additional stages- the SUMERIAN RECORDS/HEADBANG FOR THE HIGHWAY STAGE, and the VICTORY RECORDS STAGE.

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINKMAIN STAGEwill boast a collection of some of the biggest bands in heavy music-including multi-platinum headliners Avenged Sevenfold, as well as Korn, Asking Alexandria and Trivium. The COLDCOCK AMERICAN HERBAL WHISKEY STAGE will feature headliner Cannibal Corpse as well as Suicide Silence (featuring new singer Eddie Hermida), Miss May I, Mushroomhead, Texas Hippie Coalition and King 810. THE SUMERIAN RECORDS/HEADBANG FOR THE HIGHWAY STAGE will feature headliner Body Count featuring Ice-T as well as Upon A Burning Body, Veil of Maya, Darkest Hour and the local Headbang For The Highway winner. The VICTORY RECORDS STAGE will feature headliner and Revolver Magazine cover band Emmure as well as Ill Nino, Wretched, Islander, and Erimha.

“We are very excited that in the seventh year of the festival we can bring our biggest lineup ever to heavy music fans across North America. With such a diverse lineup of great bands and festival attractions, 2014 will give fans an awesome day of Metal and Mayhem.” – John Reese and Kevin Lyman, Festival Producers

Tickets for the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL go on sale on April 4th at 10:00AM local time. This year’s odyssey will include four stages of heavy music and 20 bands. Also, look for Freestyle Motocross legend Jimmy Fitzpatrick and his FITZ ARMY of riders and a Motorsports exhibition area featuring Unknown Industries Harley Davidson Freestyle Riders, as well as many other surprises and attractions throughout the festival midway.

The festival will kick off on July 5th at San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, CA and will hit a total of 26 cities, ending at The Woodlands, TX (Houston) at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on August 10th.

Avenged Sevenfold achieved worldwide success with a string of best-selling albums – including two consecutive No 1’s on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, Nightmare (2010) and their latest Hail To The King (2013) – achieving Diamond, Platinum and Gold awards for album sales in nearly a dozen countries. The band, which hails from Huntington Beach, CA, have become known for their spectacular live shows, routinely selling out arenas worldwide and headlining some of the biggest and most prestigious music festivals. This summer they are scheduled to perform five shows at the Soundwave Festival in Australia, as well as Rock Im Park and Rock Am Ring in Germany, the PinkPop Festival in Holland, Donington Park in the U.K., and two nights at Summersonic in Japan, along with several others. In November 2012, they made an unprecedented appearance as characters in Call of Duty Black Ops 2 – the biggest-selling video game of all time, which featured the band’s performance of “Carry On,” written specifically for the game.

About Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival:

The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is the World’s Premier Heavy Music Touring Festival. The Festival is entering its seventh year in 2014 and has performed more than 160 Shows throughout North America to over 1.7 Million fans. The festival was founded by John Reese and Kevin Lyman and is booked by Darryl Eaton at Creative Artists Agency. Rockstar Energy Drink is the title sponsor and has maintained that role since the festival’s inception.

About Rockstar Energy Drink:

Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 20 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information visit: www.RockstarEnergy.com

Based on the number of concert announcements that were made over the last couple of weeks, you can tell that summer is right around the corner. Sure, here in the Northeast, we’re due to get one last round of snowfall before winter finally retreats for another year, but the scent of summer is still close. Hearing that bands like Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Kiss, and Motley Crue are gearing up for their summer tours makes me feel all warm inside. I’m giddy with the anticipation of a hot summer night and my favorite bands. This summer is shaping up to be a great one for concerts, as some exceptional bands are teaming up for double bills across the country. The only problem with all of these great shows is that no one can attend them all…unless they win the lottery.

I checked out some ticket prices for the upcoming shows this summer and I was shocked by what I saw. I mean, I get that a ticket isn’t going to cost $30, $40, or even $50 anymore, but some prices were astounding. Take Kiss with Def Leppard for instance. Here are two aging bands that have cashed in on their fans multiple times over, limping into retirement, and barely put on the live show that they did years ago. The asking price to sit in an actual seat at one of the outdoor venues this summer is $200. I find that ridiculous if not insulting. $200? And the lawn wasn’t much of a better deal at $50. Yes, it’s cheaper, but there’s a lot lacking on the lawn, not to mention a lot of drunks bumping into you and possibly vomiting where you need to walk. Yes, I love my hard partying, metal buddies.

Nine Inch Nails with Soundgarden isn’t a cheap show either. They are looking to get $100 for a seat and $40 for the lawn. Boston wants $100 and $70. Chicago with REO Speedwagon was looking for $125 but their lawn seats were a bargain at $20. And then there was the band that had me throw my hands up in despair. Journey is going on tour with the Steve Miller Band and they are expecting fans to shell out $225 for an actual seat. I have a feeling those shows will not be selling out.

Sure, you can call me a crusty old fan, a hostile curmudgeon, or someone stuck in a time warp, but I still believe that when tickets get over $100 for a seat, it’s ridiculous. The median income for a full time worker in America is $19 per hour. To see Kiss and sit in an actual seat, that fan would need to work more than 12 hours (don’t forget to subtract taxes taken out) to pay for that concert. Almost two days of work to see 3 hours of entertainment and the same tired set list. If any of these bands are wondering why their shows aren’t selling, they need only to look at their ticket prices. Face reality, gang. You’re performances are not worth the price you are charging. But what’s a head banging fan to do? He wants to see his favorite bands. She wants to have a rocking good time this summer.

Unfortunately, fans are forced to pick and choose which shows they can see. Using the above examples, I have to choose between Kiss and Def Leppard or Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden. Pick either my favorite band in all the land versus a band that I have never seen live (Soundgarden) but have always wanted to. It sucks that I have to choose at all, but unfortunately, like most hard working Americans, I am on a budget. And yes, I am making that choice for lawn seats. There’s no way I can afford the real seats.

What happened to the good old days of affordable tickets? In the 90s, I could see up to 12 shows a summer and spend less than the cost of 2 shows these days. It’s a shame the way bands just continue to rake their fans over the coals. And then they wonder why those same fans are stealing their music online. I mean, at the price they are asking for tickets, Def Leppard and Kiss could at least throw in their latest live and greatest hits albums respectively. Sweeten the deal, somehow!

In the end, I suppose it’s inevitable. If fans continue to pay the asking price, bands will continue to charge high. I know that no one is going to boycott a concert in protest of the ticket prices, but I still feel that most of these shows will not sell out. And maybe when these artists perform to a half empty house, they’ll get the message. Or maybe they’ll just count their money and move on.

What about you? Are you fed up with ticket prices? Have you had to cut out shows that you really want to see due to the high price of attendance? Drop a line in the comments and let us know.

Pavement Entertainment welcomes Nebraska’s Emphatic to the roster. Emphatic’s brand of melodic hard rock has gained them much acclaim by fans and critics alike with their albums “Damage” and “Another Life”, along with 4 singles charting in the top 40 active rock charts.

The band is currently playing select live shows while writing their new album slated for a late 2014 release. “With some welcomed changes that have occurred with Emphatic, we felt it necessary to get back into the studio and make an album that reflects the current vision of the band” states guitarist Justin McCain who will also be producing the new album. “We are excited about this new opportunity and look forward to the road ahead”.

The band has suffered through some changes in its past but according to Pavement’s Director of A&R Tim King, “Any band that has longevity and is in it for the long haul had to suffer through ups and downs. This includes changes with labels, management, and sometimes even band members. There are so many bands that just pack it in and call it a day when things get tough. Bands like Emphatic separate the men from the boys. The band’s determination and great songwriting is a key factor as to why I signed them to Pavement. We have many great things planned for these guys”

SEVENDUST has announced the second leg of their “An Evening With Sevendust” acoustic U.S. tour, which kicks off April 1 in Athens, GA at the Georgia Theatre. They’re hitting the road to promote their long-awaited and highly-anticipated acoustic album, TIME TRAVELERS & BONFIRES, which will be released April 15 on 7Bros. Records, in conjunction with ADA Label Services.

“Black” is the album’s first single, which is already getting spins on SiriusXM’s “Octane” channel, is currently available on iTunes. Pre-orders are also available on iTunes and Amazon.

On Friday, November 22, 2013, SEVENDUST partnered with PledgeMusic for a direct-to-fan campaign to help fund the creation of TIME TRAVELERS & BONFIRES and was set to last a 130 days. Over the course of that first weekend, they reached their goal thanks to their “Family” of fans who had received the exciting news solely from the band’s and band member’s personal Facebook and Twitter sites. SEVENDUST has always said they consider their fans to be part of the SEVENDUST Family, and they certainly proved their love and devotion for the band with the immediate response to the PledgeMusic opportunity.

Even though there are still seven days left of the campaign, SEVENDUST has raised over 222% of their goal with over 3,400 pledges. Exclusive incentives that are still available include a digital download of the album before its available anywhere, autographed T-shirts, a “Making Of” DVD, as well as autographed guitars, amps, stage backdrops and cymbals that have been used on tour.

In radio news, SEVENDUST will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show, “Rockline,” with host Bob Coburn on Monday, April 14 at 8:30pm PT/11:30pm ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with the band that night by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). For a list of stations and for information regarding how fans can hear the broadcast streaming live, go to www.RocklineRadio.com. The show will be streamed on the Rockline website for two weeks beginning the evening after the broadcast.

Guitar legend Neal Schön has joined forces with bassist Marco Mendoza (Black Star Riders, Ted Nugent, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) and drummer Deen Castronovo (Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai, Hardline) to create a unique body of work with jazz and blues-inspired virtuosic hard rock playing, entitled SO U. The new album features Schön, Mendoza and Castronovo splitting vocal and writing duties, with many of the tracks also co-written by Night Ranger/Damn Yankee’s songwriter, singer and bassist Jack Blades. Of SO U, Neal Schön commented, “This is a great new record that features all three of us – Deen, Marco and myself – sharing lead vocals. Enjoy!”

Best known as founding member and lead guitarist of Journey, Neal Schönhas enjoyed a remarkable career as one of rock n’ roll’s top virtuosos, with a hand in creating some of the most popular songs of all time. Beginning his career more than 35 years ago in the San Francisco Bay area, the 15-year-old guitar prodigy left home to join Santana. Schönmoved on in 1973 to form Journey. With Journey and other projects, he has earned 19 Top 40 singles and 25 platinum and gold albums, was awarded the prestigious “Legend Of Live Award” at the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 and was individually inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame in 2013. As the only member to record on all of Journey’s albums, Schöncontinues with the band today in its latest incarnation.

In addition to 6 solo albums and 14 studio albums with Journey, Neal Schön has also performed with Joe Cocker, Sammy Hagar, Paul Rodgers, Larry Graham, Betty Davis, Michael Bolton, fusion legend Jan Hammer, Hardline and supergroup Bad English, as well as a variety of side projects. His latest instrumental solo album, THE CALLING, released in 2012 via Frontiers Records, won rave reviews from fans and the media alike, with Vintage Guitar declaring “THE CALLING is a fine piece of work demonstrating that Schönstill has it going on – and then some…The songs are strong and his guitar tones are absolutely luxurious.” In demand as one of the leading guitarists of his generation, Schönalso worked with Gibson to manufacture his own limited edition “Neal SchönSignature Model Custom Les Paul” guitar, but now uses custom PRS Neal Schon LTD Private Stock guitars, made especially for Neal by Paul Reed Smith.

Soundgarden & Nine Inch Nails will be touring together this summer. Pre-sale tickets will be available Monday beginning at 12 PM local time using the password ‘MYWAVE’. Tickets for the tour will go on sale to the public Friday, March 21.

Kiss and Def Leppard will team up this summer for a 42-city North American tour that will “deliver good news and excitement,” says Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley.

The tour begins June 23 in West Valley City, Utah, and wraps up Aug. 31 in Woodlands, Texas. Tickets go on sale starting Friday.

The groups announced the tour Monday at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.The press conference was streamed live via the Live Nation website.

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott says he and Gene Simmons first discussed the idea of the two bands touring together when he and the Kiss bassist played some South American dates two years ago as part of a rock-and-roll all-stars tour. “It’s finally happened, which is fantastic,” Elliott says.

It’ll be the first time the two bands have shared a bill, though Stanley says, “We’ve run into each other at festivals. It just seemed to be a natural fit.” Stanley also noted that one of guitarist Phil Collen’s pre-Def Leppard bands, Girl, opened for Kiss in the U.K. during the early ’80s.

Kiss did a similar co-headlining tour with Motley Crue in 2012.

Kiss released its first album, Hotter Than Hell, 40 years ago, and the band will commemorate the anniversary with a slew of archival releases, including a 34-LP vinyl box set and a two-CD compilation called Kiss 40. The group will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame April 10.

Def Leppard has been writing music for the group’s next album. “We all camped out at my house last month and wrote songs, which you will hear none of this summer,” Elliott says. Collen says he expects that album to come out in 2015.

Simmons says a dollar from each ticket sold on the tour will go to to the Wounded Warrior Project and other military non-profits. Those charitable partners include the USO, Hire a Hero, Project Resiliency/The Raven Drum Foundatio, and The Augusta Warrior Project. “Politicians fart through their mouth,” Simmons says. “Only the military makes freedom possible.”

Stanley adds that the group also plans to hire vets for its crew. “We try to find a couple of vets who want to go out and be part of the team,” he says. “This is a chance for somebody to travel and be part of the Kiss Army.”

Elliot says he doesn’t see any rivalry developing between the groups while they’re on tour. “It’s two great bands that are going to be playing for the same amount of time,” he says. “It’s joint forces. I don’t see it as competitive at all.”

Admittedly, I was nervous when I heard that the new Against Me! record was a concept album about a transgender prostitute with themes of gender dysphoria. Being a fan of the band, I felt that this was their first album I would not relate to. I don’t know anything about the transgender community and I couldn’t see how I would understand someone going through these types of changes in life. Add to that a new producer, a new bass player, and a new drummer, and I felt that it was a recipe for disaster. Yet, after hearing “Fuckmylife666” and “Talking Transgender Dysphoria Blues” on the internet, I knew that this was an album I had to own. Buying Transgender Dysphoria Blues was one of the best decisions I’ve made this year.

Transgender Dysphoria Blues opens with the fantastic “Talking Transgender Dysphoria Blues,” a hard rocking song that immediately opens the eyes of people, like myself, who know little or nothing of what it is like to go through a change of life at that magnitude. The opening drum beats immediately suck the listener in, the blitzing guitar chords hook them, and once Laura Jane Grace starts singing, it is clear that this could be the best Against Me! song ever recorded. Grace sings about the pain of coming out transgender, the desire to just be accepted for who you are, and the pain of being judged everywhere you turn. I immediately realized that my ignorant thoughts of not being able to relate to this album were wrong. While I don’t know the pain of coming out transgender, I do know the pain of not being accepted for who you are and the pain of desire related to wanting to belong. Needless to say, “Talking Transgender Dysphoria Blues” received several plays before I even made it to track number two.

The record takes off from there delivering fine music from start to finish. New drummer Atom Willard makes his presence known immediately, and Laura Jane Grace’s voice is in fine form throughout the album. And even though the band changed the entire rhythm section (drummer Jay Weinberg and bassist Andrew Seward left between albums), both new drummer Atom Willard and new bass guitarist Inge Johansson are able to keep exceptional time and create tight pockets for Grace and guitarist James Bowman to perform over. While these four bandmates have only been together a short time, the results sound as if they have performed with one another for their entire career.

Transgender Dysphoria Blues contains a lot of fast, powerful, hard rocking, punk songs that deliver just the right amount of emotion at exactly the right time. Songs like “Unconditional Love” and “Black Me Out” are bound to go down as Against Me! classics and will be fan favorites in no time. On this album, the band never strays from what they do best, which is making short, blitzkrieg, hard rock songs.

If you like your hard rock mixed with punk and thrash, in addition to an us against the world mentality, you will love Transgender Dysphoria Blues. While not the best Against Me! album ever recorded, it comes very close. If you’ve never listened to Against Me! before, this is a great album to discover the band.

Beggar’s Blues Diary is a rock band formed in Athens, Greece, in 2009.

On November 2011, the band’s 1st album “Back to Basics…” was released by Modal Records. The songs “Dove” and “The River” have already reached hit single status in Greece hence included in the daily playlist of major radio stations, such as RED FM, Rock FM, 1055Rock, and TV channels across Greece and Cyprus such as MTV and MAD Channel.

The band released their 2nd album “THE TRUTH” (Records On Top), which is yet their best commercial effort with singles such as “Not my war” and “Truth” becoming very quick favorite rock singles both in Greece and Cyprus.

The band has given more than 150 shows around Greece and Cyprus between 2012-2013 as part of their Summer and Winter tours.

The band has also shared the stage with THIN LIZZY, THE GODFATHERS.

Twelve months after their last album release titled “Truth” and after having covered the entire year performing live, Beggar’s Blues Diary release their new, third album “Desperate Rock ‘n’ Roll” via Records On Top Records, produced by Alexandros Chrysidis, recorded at Sierra Studios.

“Desperate Rock ‘n’ Roll” contains eleven new songs and will be initially released on March 10th, 2014 as a digipack and in a limited 300 autographed copies to be sold exclusively through Beggar’s Blues Diary’s tour commencing March 14th. Following that, “Desperate Rock ‘n’ Roll” will be released as a Vinyl/CD combo on March 31st, 2014.

It could have been so simple. It could have been a wonderful celebration of past, present, and future. It could have been the greatest moment in KISStory. Instead, it will now be a footnote to the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction/performance ceremony. Instead of performing in front of a hometown, New York City fan base, KISS will not be performing at all.

The band announced their decision on their official website (www.kissonline.com) after separate comments were made by founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Ace fired the first shot on Eddie Trunk’s radio show, by saying that he and Peter had been denied the opportunity to perform at the Hall of Fame ceremony. Ace stated that Gene and Paul wanted their current lineup with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer to perform instead. Peter Criss released his own statement stating: “… I want to make sure that fans understand that no original performance, in or out of makeup, has been offered to us…”

Gene and Paul immediately responded via the Kiss website, stating that they wanted to celebrate “the entire history of KISS and give credit to all members including present long time members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.” They went on to further state that they had never refused to play with Ace and Peter. Since the moment the band was announced as inductees, Gene Simmons has been in support of playing with Ace and Peter, at least for one or two songs.

It was speculated that Ace and Peter would play with Tommy and Eric either all together onstage, or that Ace and Peter would play a couple of songs as just the original lineup. Ace had stated that he didn’t want to perform alongside someone wearing his makeup, only fueling the fire that it may be Ace and Peter blocking the fans chances to see the original lineup one last time. And make no mistake about it— this would be the last time that the four of them would perform together.

Whether it’s Ace and Peter refusing to get onstage with Eric and Tommy, or if it is Gene and Paul trying to dictate what the band does, it is only the fans who get hurt in the end. This rock and roll induction performance had the potential to be the biggest moment in the history of KISS. It would have blown away the MTV unplugged performance where 6 members of the band (including Ace and Peter) all took the stage together. And if Gene and Paul were being true to their word and were going to celebrate the entire history of Kiss, then they should have asked Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick to join in and paid tribute to Mark St. John and Eric Carr. Heck, Tommy could have been the Egyptian Ankh for one night and Eric Singer could have been the Fox. That would have been incredible! And the band could have then taken off the makeup and performed a set with Bruce and Eric featuring the 90s material (and maybe even perform a track from Carnival Of Souls).

This ceremony could have been a lifelong Kiss fan’s dream. It would have been absolutely amazing. Instead, it will be nothing. And I don’t know if there is anyone specifically to blame. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ace and/or Peter said that if anyone other than the original four performed they won’t do it. It wouldn’t surprise me if Gene said “It’s my way, or the highway.” When it comes to the original four members, there is nothing that can shock me anymore. Yet, it is a disappointment. It could have been one magical night, and now Ace and Peter aren’t even sure if they will attend the ceremony. And that is the largest disappointment of all.

A ‘Hidden Treasure’ Recorded Live at The Ritz in Manchester During SAXON’s ‘Sacrifice World Tour’

Each year, British heavy metal legends SAXON honor a fine tradition of paying homage to England’s patron Saint George by putting on a spectacular annual show on St. George’s Day (April 23rd). The band’s new live album, St. George’s Day Sacrifice – Live in Manchester,was recorded at last year’s performance on that special day, specifically at The Ritz in Manchester, England during the band’s ‘Sacrifice World Tour’. The album, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap and produced by SAXON vocalist Biff Byford, hits stores in the U.S. on April 29, 2014 via UDR Music.

This 2 CD set (also available in digital format) finds a blistering performance covering a collection of SAXON’s finest work from 1979 up to 2013. A very special rendition of ‘Broken Heroes’ goes straight to the heart and is dedicated to The British Armed Forces. This is SAXON at their best – a real treasure rejoicing every fan.

St. George’s Day Sacrifice – Live in Manchester tracklisting:

CD 1 – running time 61:05 minutes

01 Sacrifice

02 Wheels Of Terror

03 Power And The Glory

04 Made In Belfast

05 Rock’n Roll Gypsy

06 And The Bands Played On

07 I’ve Got To Rock (To Stay Alive)

08 Night Of The Wolf

09 Conquistador

10 Broken Heroes

11 Guardians of The Tomb

CD 2 – running time 59:08 minutes

01 Never Surrender

02 Ride Like The Wind

03 Crusader

04 Stand Up And Fight

05 Dallas I PM

06 747 (Strangers In The Night)

07 Wheels Of Steel

08 Strong Arm Of The Law

09 Denim And Leather

10 Princess of The NightSAXON’s most recent studio album, Unplugged and Strung Up, debuted at #52 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, as well as #89 on the Top Rock chart in its first week of release! Unplugged and Strung Up is an amazing full-length release of fresh twists on classic tracks. Featuring staple SAXON stormers such as ‘Motorcycle Man’, ‘Strong Arm of the Law’ and ‘Dallas 1pm’, it is a quintessential part of any collection. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshire, UK last year, Biff and co. re-evaluated, re-worked and re-energized the towering likes of ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ and ‘Crusader’ by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. ‘Frozen Rainbow’ from the band’s 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, whilst ‘Red Star Falling’ soars and sweeps the emotions with its orchestrally-arranged dovetail. Buy your copy today – available in digipack version – here via Amazon.
For more information on both releases, please visit www.saxon747.com and www.udr-music.com.

The 10th anniversary MusiCares MAP Fund® benefit concert will honorBlack Sabbath’s GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, and owner/CEO of the Village studios Jeff Greenberg. Taking place at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on May 12, Osbourne will be honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund. He is being recognized for his commitment to helping other addicts with the addiction recovery process. Greenberg will be the recipient of MusiCares®‘From the Heart Award for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization. All proceeds will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.

Continuing to celebrate the memory of DJ AM, the evening’s DJ will be Mix Master Mike. There will also be a performance by Osbourne and his touring band with special guest Slash on guitar. Additional performers will be announced shortly.

“Ten years ago MusiCares merged with the Musicians’ Assistance Program, originally founded by Buddy Arnold, to create the MusiCares MAP Fund,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and MusiCares. “Since then our addiction recovery resources and programs have grown substantially, and this annual benefit provides a meaningful way to recognize artists and industry professionals who are on the front lines in the battle to fight this crippling disease. It’s an honor to celebrate Ozzy and Jeff in our 10th anniversary year, and we know it will be an extraordinary evening filled with heartfelt words and serious rock and roll.”

“I know firsthand about the ravages of addiction and I also know that the MusiCares MAP Fund is a vital safety net for people in the music industry who need help with substance abuse,” said Osbourne. “This organization literally saves lives.”

“I’ve been lucky to spend my life in the music business doing things that I love,” said Greenberg. “But I’ve also seen the serious and, all too often, fatal effects of addiction in our industry, so that’s why I am an ardent supporter of the MusiCares MAP Fund.”

This special dinner and concert offers Living Room Sets that seat 10 for $12,500, Individual Floor Seats for $1,250 per person, and VIP Balcony Seats for $100 per person. Contact Wynnie Wynn for ticket information at 310.392.3777 or wynniew@grammy.com. General Admission Balcony Seats for $50 per person are available only through AXS beginning at 10 a.m. PT on March 7 atwww.axs.com. Out of respect for the clients the MusiCares MAP Fund serves, the event will be alcohol-free.

Osbourne is a multi-platinum Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter. His career has spanned more than four decades as both a solo artist and as the lead singer of metal icons Black Sabbath, and his music is as relevant today as ever. Since 2011, Osbourne’s focus has been with Black Sabbath. In June 2013 Black Sabbath returned with their critically acclaimed album 13, which debuted at No. 1 in 13 countries. Produced by eight-time GRAMMY-winning producer Rick Rubin, 13 was the first studio album to feature original Black Sabbath members Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Osbourne in 35 years. Earlier this year, the group won a GRAMMY Award for Best Metal Performance for the album’s lead single “God Is Dead?”

Beyond his music career, Osbourne is a best-selling author (I Am Ozzy, 2010; Trust Me, I’m Dr. Ozzy: Advice From Rock’s Ultimate Survivor, 2011), advice columnist (The Sunday Times, The London Times and Rolling Stone) and among the first to have a celebrity reality television program (“The Osbournes,” which won a 2002 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality) ). That same year, Osbourne was honored by the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star on Hollywood Boulevard.

Owner and CEO of the Village studios in West Los Angeles, Greenberg is a native Angeleno with music in his blood. At age 19 Greenberg was already managing his first rock band. He went on to produce some of the very first skateboarding events and 1978’s Cal Jam II (one of the biggest one day festivals in history). He also managed the band the Section and Felix Pappalardi, the producer of Cream and the leader of Mountain. Greenberg then booked and promoted concerts for Nederlander venues such as the Greek Theatre. Later he became a talent agent for ICM where, with the legendary Tom Ross, he represented artists such as Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Heart, the Kinks, Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt, Santana, and James Taylor, among many others.

The Village has produced many of the most important albums of the past half-century, including those by the Band, Eric Clapton, Coldplay, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Heart, Lady Gaga, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Supertramp, Talking Heads, Usher, and many of T Bone Burnett’s albums and affiliated soundtracks. Soundtracks recorded at the Village include The Bodyguard, Cars, Crazy Heart, The Hunger Games, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge, Saving Mr. Banks, The Shawshank Redemption, There’s Something About Mary, South Park: The Movie, Toy Story, and Walk The Line, among others. The complex, located in a 1922 Masonic Temple, hosts many events for artists and organizations such as The Recording Academy. Greenberg is past president and current director of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services, a Producers & Engineers Wing Advisory Board member, and Governor and current Secretary of The Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter. Greenberg was also one of the original board members of the Musicians’ Assistance Program.

The MusiCares Foundationoffers programs and services to members of the music community including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses such as rent, utilities and car payments; medical expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; psychotherapy; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, hepatitis C, and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with healthcare professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests, and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund® allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms, supported by the Bohemian Foundation, offer a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events.

MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process. The MusiCares Sober Touring Network is a database of individuals across the United States who can take music people to recovery support meetings while on the road.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like “MusiCares” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/musicares, follow MusiCares on Twitter @MusiCares at www.twitter.com/musicares, and join us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/musicares.

2ND ANNUAL ROCK AGAINST MS returns to the Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood with yet another amazing All-Star line up. The 2nd Annual has the Rock Stars returning in support of long time friend and publicist, Nancy B. Sayle. This rock-fueled concert is to help raise awareness and funding for Sayle and her new foundation benefiting those living with MS.

Guitar Player Magazine is in the house to present Lita Ford their top award – Inspired by Chet Atkins’ phrase “Certified Guitar Player”—and typically bestowed at NAMM during Muriel Anderson’s All-Star Guitar Night—this award debuted in 2003 with Les Paul as the first recipient. Since then, GP has honored Duane Eddy, Nokie Edwards, Dick Dale, Larry Carlton, Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour, Robben Ford, Joe Perry, and others. “Lita Ford slugged it out with the boys club in an era where female musicians who liked to rock hard had very few heroes,” says GUITAR PLAYER Editor in Chief Michael Molenda. “But Lita was there, and man, did she cut a heroic figure. She was tough. She was smart. She could write a good song. And she could shred. Stinging bends. Fierce vibrato. A great sense of melody and phrasing. Since the Runaways in the late 1970s, and throughout her solo career, Lita has been a beacon of cool, and an inspiration for girls AND boys who want to express themselves through the guitar. She is the definition of a Certified Legend.”

In its finishing stages, the ROCK AGAINST MS FOUNDATION will provide services from a three (3) grant resource system, which will provide daily care, quality of life needs and emergency funding, while assisting people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to live independent and full lives. Additionally, a brick and mortar facility we will call THE ROCK HOUSE is in the planning stages, and will provide free of charge, multiple programs and opportunities designed to heal the mind, body and spirit of all those whose lives have been affected by MS.

Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system.

MS interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving.

Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The advancement, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.

Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.

MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.1 million worldwide.

Monster Truck is confirmed to appear with Alice in Chains for a run beginning on May 6 in North Charleston, SC at the North Charleston Coliseum. The quartet will make these eleven arena appearances alongside just confirmed festival performances at Welcome To Rockville in Jacksonville, FL (4/26), Sun Fest in West Palm Beach, FL (5/04) and Rock On The Range in Columbus, OH (5/18). The band has been touring extensively across the globe for the last year, and look poised to rise with the increased audience exposure.

This follows an extensive coast-to-coast tour with Alter Bridge through many of the major markets across the U.S. That 11-date tour will begin on April 14 in Dallas, TX and end on May 2 in Kansas City, MO. All confirmed U.S. appearances are cited below.

Artists have long supported the rise of Monster Truck, and this heavy touring activity is a testament to their collective passion for the band. The relationship the band cultivated with singer Myles Kennedy, who enjoys a prolific career as front man in Slash’s ensemble as well as being the vocalist of Alter Bridge, was the primary driver in delivering the April run. Monster Truck toured extensively with Slash in 2013. Alice In Chains Mike Inez offers, “Monster Truck is the real deal. Familiar. Comfortable. Like an old pair of gig boots or sweaty pig sex with an ex girlfriend. I wish them all the success in the World, but it’s not ALL because they are such great human beings and hardworking guys. It is for a totally selfish reason too. I just wanna jam the fuck out with ’em again sometime! Cya out there on the road fellas.”

The debut single “Sweet Mountain River” received substantial support in the U.S. from rock stations across the country. In Canada, the song achieved the milestone of becoming #1 at the Active Rock, and Mainstream Rock, for eight consecutive weeks. The follow-up track, “The Lion” stood at the top of the Canadian rock charts for six weeks, with the song impacting U.S. rock radio now.

The band was recently honored with a Juno Award Nomination for Rock Album of the Year for FURIOSITY. The award will be presented to the winner on March 30 in Winnipeg. Monster Truck took home the 2013 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of The Year, toured their home country of Canada with Alice In Chains, and established themselves as a major headlining attraction. In the U.S., the band has been very active, appearing with Kid Rock, Slash, Guns ‘n Roses, Sevendust, and others, performing for hundreds of thousands of rock fans over the course of this year. Overseas, the band appeared on a 29-date run of Europe supporting Vista Chino (formerly Kyuss). This March, 2014, Monster Truck return to Europe as headliners of the “Lords of the Riff, Volume 1” tour in association with Classic Rock and Metal Hammer Magazines. A short-form documentary capturing their essence as they travel the globe can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/IYLkY4mxcdk

Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Monster Truck was formed in 2009 by Jon Harvey (bass, lead vocals), Jeremy Widerman (guitar, vocals), Brandon Bliss (organ, vocals) and Steve Kiely (drums, vocals). What began as a side-project to their other more ‘serious’ bands quickly gained momentum and took on a life of its own. The band has released 2 EPs since their inception; a self-titled, and notably self-released EP produced by Gus Van Go & Werner F (The Stills, Priestess, Hollerado) and The Brown EP (also produced by Ratz) on Dine Alone Records.

Ronnie James Dio is one of the most beloved figures in rock history. His gifts, both as a singer and songwriter, are instantly recognizable, whether he was with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, or leading Dio. Sadly, Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer in 2010, but his towering voice and legacy live on.

To celebrate one of rock’s most powerful voices, an all-star group of his friends and fans recorded 13 of their favorite tracks for a tribute album that will raise funds for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (diocancerfund.org). Produced by his longtime manager and wife Wendy Dio, the album includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as Metallica, Motörhead, Scorpions, Anthrax, and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years.

This Is Your Life will be available from Rhino on April 1, 2014 for a suggested list price of $18.98. A digital version will also be available.

Although the songs featured on the album touch on the different eras of Dio’s career, several spotlight his time with Rainbow, including Metallica’s epic, nine-minute “Ronnie Rising Medley,” which combines the Rainbow songs “A Light In The Black,” “Tarot Woman,” “Stargazer,” and “Kill The King.” Scorpions add a scorching take on “The Temple Of The King” while Motörhead is joined by Biff Byford from Saxon on “Starstruck.” Rob Halford teams with frequent Dio collaborators Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, and Scott Warren for “The Man On The Silver Mountain.” The final line-up of Dio’s solo band – Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo and Scott Warren – are joined by Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) for “Catch The Rainbow,” a track from Rainbow’s 1975 debut.

Anthrax and Adrenaline Mob honor Dio’s memorable stint with Black Sabbath with their takes on “Neon Knights” and “The Mob Rules” respectively, as does a group, led by Oni Logan on vocals along with Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, and Brian Tichy, which performs “I” from Dehumanizer.

This Is Your Life also includes songs from Dio’s back-to-back platinum albums Holy Diver (1983) and The Last In Line (1984), with Doro’s take on “Egypt (The Chains Are On)”, Halestorm tackling “Straight Through The Heart,” Corey Taylor (Stone Sour, Slipknot) covering the classic “Rainbow In The Dark” and Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Glass) putting their signature spin on “The Last In Line.” Killswitch Engage’s cover of “Holy Diver,” a hit in its own right when released in 2006, is also included here.

Fittingly, Ronnie James Dio provides the finale (and the album’s title) with his moving performance of “This Is Your Life.” Originally released on Angry Machines (1996), the song’s lyrics explore mortality and are backed by a stark and beautiful arrangement that features Dio accompanied only by his longtime keyboardist Scott Warren on piano. The song serves as a poignant reminder that we will never hear a voice like Dio’s again.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.